8 best new features in the Notes app in iOS 18

In iOS 18, Apple adds several handy new features to the iPhone’s Notes app. These upgrades will help you create better, easier-to-follow notes while significantly speeding up the overall process of creating said notes.

AI-powered summaries should make it easy to review long notes, while Smart Script will help make handwritten notes legible. Below are the top new features coming to the Notes app this year.

New features in Apple’s Notes app in iOS 18

You probably use the Notes app on your iPhone (and your Mac or iPad) multiple times throughout the day, so it’s important that Apple keeps improving it with every new iOS release. In iOS 18 (and iPadOS 18), Apple is adding several new features to the Notes app to help you quickly jot down your ideas. And if you take long notes, features like collapsible sections and support for highlights using text color will make them easier to go through.

If you didn’t upgrade yet, you can find iOS 18 in Settings > General > Software Update. It’s compatible with all the same devices as iOS 17.

Table of contents: 8 great new Notes app features in iOS 18

1. Audio transcripts
2. Collapsible sections
3. Built-in calculator
4. Math Notes
5. Highlight text with color
6. Smart Script
7. Easier file attachment
8. Store call recordings

1. Audio transcripts in Apple’s Notes app

In iOS 18, you can directly record audio from the Notes app. More importantly, the app can transcribe and summarize the audio using Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of AI features.

When you stop recording, the Notes app will show a preview of the transcript below the audio note. Tapping on it opens the recording and the full transcript, which you can manually add to the note, copy, etc. To see a live transcription during the audio recording, tap the quote button on the recording screen.

You can save the audio clip using the Files app or share it directly with others. Once Apple Intelligence rolls out, you will be able to create an AI-powered summary of long audio notes.

Note: Live audio transcriptions will be available for iPhone 12 and newer devices only, even though some older iPhones can run iOS 18.

2. Collapsible sections make it easier to read long Notes

You could already add headers to notes in the iPhone’s Notes app. With iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Apple improves the headers by making them collapsible. This will come in handy in particularly lengthy notes, where you can use headers to hide the wall of text for better readability.

3. Built-in calculator in Apple Notes app

In iOS 18, Apple’s Notes app comes with basic Excel and calculator capabilities baked in. You can include formulas and common mathematical symbols in your notes, and the app will instantly solve them. So, if you frequently use the Notes app for tracking your expenses, it will automatically calculate the total.

4. Math Notes in Apple’s Notes app for iPad

Apple supercharges the Notes app in iPadOS 18 with Math Notes support. It’s like having a built-in scientific calculator in the Notes app that can help you solve your homework. Additionally, it can evaluate expressions, plot graphs, etc., when you use an Apple Pencil or a keyboard.

Note: Math Notes will only work with Western Arabic numerals and common maths symbols.

5. Highlight text with color in Apple Notes in iOS 18

Apple’s Notes app in iOS 18 allows you to highlight text using color to ensure the words stand out. This simple addition should make going through large notes easier, as you can highlight key elements to ensure they pop. You can access the color options by tapping the Aa icon in the toolbar, then using the color picker to select one of the five color options. Additionally, you can format and highlight text using bold, italics or strikethrough.

6. Smart Script in iPad notes for increased legibility

Do you frequently use the Notes app and Apple Pencil to jot things down? In iPadOS 18, the Notes app adds Smart Script, which uses machine learning to smooth out your handwriting style to make it more legible. You also can scratch on writing to remove it.

Note: Smart Script is exclusive to iPadOS 18. It’s available on iPad (10th generation), iPad mini (sixth generation), iPad (fourth generation) and iPad Pro (third generation) models and newer.

7. Easier file attachment in Apple’s Notes app

A small tweak in Apple’s Notes app in iOS 18 makes attaching files to your notes easy. While you previously could attach files and other documents, the process was convoluted and required pasting them directly into the note. In iOS 18, you can access a new Attach Files option by tapping the paperclip icon from the toolbar within a note. From there, you can select the file to attach using the document picker that opens. Alternatively, you can access the Attach File option from the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of a note.

8. Store call recordings

iOS 18 introduces call recording support on the iPhone, which features tight integration with the Notes app. Every time you record a call, your iPhone will save the voice recording and transcript in the Notes app inside the Call Recording folder.

More top features in iOS 18

• Switch up your Home Screen with dark mode icons
• Customize Control Center with the toggles and features you care about
• Learn how to use the all-new Photos app
• Five awesome new features in Messages
• How to use the new Passwords app
• Lock or hide an app with Face ID

And check out the full list for even more.

We originally published this article on all the new features in Apple’s Notes app in iOS 18 on August 15, 2024. We updated the information.